Rebuilding After Demolition
HASSAN’S STORY
On 25 September 2025 Hassan was standing amid the rubble of what had been his house.
What had taken months of hard work and years of savings had been destroyed in a matter of moments – bulldozed by the Israeli occupying authorities because Hassan had not got a permit from them for building his home.
Like many Palestinians, Hassan was forced to build without permits because they are all but impossible to obtain – a system that leads to a cycle of destruction and despair.
Hassan had built his house on his small plot of land in Al Khader so that he could more easily tend his olive trees. But now many of those trees lay uprooted or broken, collateral damage as his house was torn down.
What stayed with Hassan most was not the destruction but the way in which it was done:
“The bulldozers left without clearing anything... without offering any explanation, leaving me alone to face what was left behind. ”
But Hassan did not walk away.
Over the days and weeks that followed he cleared the debris and saved what trees he could. It was slow, exhausting work. There was no one to help him, no machinery, no support, just his determination to restore what he could.
Newly planted trees on Hassan’s land.
This spring, thanks to Embrace supporters who sponsored trees through the Olive Tree Project, he was able to plant 40 olive tree saplings, helping to replace what he’s lost.
He does not know yet if he will try to rebuild. Construction in Palestine is expensive, and the risk of another demolition is always present. The fear of losing everything again is real.
But his new olive trees mean he can continue to work and protect his land. Every day, he is there, planting and tending to his small olive grove. His house may be gone, but, thanks in part to the Olive Tree Project, his livelihood and his connection to his land is not.
The Olive Tree Project
Through the Olive Tree Project, Embrace the Middle East supports Palestinian farmers to remain rooted in their land. Discover Olive Tree Sponsorship and Olive Tree Twinning below.
